Boston College Parents Leadership Council Donate 600 Soup Kits to Catholic Charities

Last week, nearly 200 members of the Boston College Parents Leadership Council gathered on campus during Family Weekend to give back to Catholic Charities Boston. 

In just under an hour, the hardworking group assembled 600 bags containing all of the necessary ingredients for a homemade nutrient-packed soup. The bags, amounting to roughly 2400 meals, were then loaded into a truck and donated to Catholic Charities Boston’s Brockton food pantry.  

“Service is a very important piece of the student experience at Boston College” said Kelly Lepley, Associate Director of Parent Development at BC. “Many BC students get involved in the local community, and we wanted to offer a similar opportunity to BC parents in which they could experience the joy of giving back in community with one another. Catholic Charities was a natural tie-in because many BC students volunteer there.” 

Parents Leadership Council Co-Chairs, Wayne and Veronica Bloom, played a key role in organizing and overseeing the event.  

“I tried out a few recipes on my own and added a few things and came up with this soup,” said Veronica, who named it ‘Soaring Eagles Soup.’ “We know Catholic Charities Boston does great work in the community and thought it would be a perfect place to donate these kits.” 

Each soup kit—containing everything from pasta to beans to bay leaves—included a handwritten note with an uplifting message: ‘You are loved.’ ‘The world needs what you carry.’ ‘Sending blessings your way.’   

“It is a huge benefit to our clients to have something prepared with so much love and energy and they will be very excited to receive the special notes and tasty meal,” said Christine Keller, Director of Food Pantries. “It makes for a nice homemade meal they can put together easily.” 

To learn more about how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need, visit our Ways to Give page.